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Weiss calls brief team meeting to regain focus

8/8/14: David Peralta steals home after the return throw from Michael McKenry to Rex Brothers, as the D-backs tack on another run in the 7th

By Thomas Harding
/
MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- Believing the focus is slipping as the losses accumulate, Rockies manager Walt Weiss called a brief team meeting before Saturday night's game against the D-backs.

Catcher Michael McKenry illustrated the Rockies' lack of attention to detail Friday night when he made a lob throw back to the mound that allowed the D-backs' David Peralta to steal home during a 5-3 defeat. But the Rockies entered Saturday night with 10 losses in the last 12 games, plus 19 in 21 road games. Weiss said Saturday's talk went beyond a specific play.

Weiss noted that he is in front of the club during the scouting meeting before the first game of every series, and usually attempts to give motivational or correction points to the club during those sessions, so it's not as if he's never in front of the entire team.

"Every once in a while, I listen to my gut and say it's time to get them together for the sake of delivering a message," Weiss said.

Weiss has repeatedly praised the club's effort this season, and said effort isn't the problem. Weiss' belief is echoed privately by several players and others familiar with the club. The pitching has been affected by injury and backup position players have been exposed because they've been forced to play more than planned.

The second part -- play the game right -- has been an issue, especially lately. Weiss didn't give any specifics, but the indication was focus was the focus of his words. Awareness in various situations can show up in many ways, such as situational at-bats or pitching and defensive execution.

"My goal is to always lend some perspective, some things I've learned from being around this game," Weiss said. "It's not that I'm smarter than anybody else. Things I know, I either learned the hard way or I was around smart people and I listened every once in a while, paid attention every once in a while."